I am a very fresh noob to vector, as well as linux in general. I am trying to get my compaq presario 5000 with vector linux 5.8 to detect my wireless card (linksys wmp54g ver 4.1; RaLink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI;). I pretty much have no clue as to what I am doing, even after reading line after line of instructional material and how-to's. Can anyone hold my hand and walk me through this mess??? I really need help in the worst way. Here is my lspci if that is helpful:

just a quick question while I'm at it, but since all of these things show as being connected to my computer, why won't they show up/work? I guess I need the drivers, right? I don't know, I am soooo lost. Please, someone, anyone, help me!!!!

thank you SOOOOOOO much!!!!! I'm finally online. I didn't find that kinda help anywhere, but maybe I wasn't looking in the right places. Anywhoo, now I just need to get my sound card working. I'll try on my own before asking for help. Question though, will ndiswrapper work for other drivers such as a windows sound card driver?

thank you SOOOOOOO much!!!!! I'm finally online. I didn't find that kinda help anywhere, but maybe I wasn't looking in the right places. Anywhoo, now I just need to get my sound card working. I'll try on my own before asking for help. Question though, will ndiswrapper work for other drivers such as a windows sound card driver?

The Asus L8400 laptops come with an ESS Technology ES1988 Allegro-1 audio controller. It is also called an Maestro-3

The maestro3 OSS driver is included in Linux 2.2 and Linux 2.4.

It works to the extent I have used it. I can play sounds from various programs, play audio CDs, listen to the radio, …

There is a page dedicated to the Maestro3/Allegro linux sound driver.

The volume control on CD-ROM drive on the right side of the laptop works as a master volume dial. It is not just for playing audio CDs. I use it a lot, as it allows you to control the volume of any sound playing program, such as realplayer and xmms.

when I configure the first one (maestro3) I get the message "Ok, sound driver is configured....." it is supposedly configured, but am I supposed to hear something right then? I don't get any sound after this either. I did try the alsamixer command in the terminal, but no luck.

aww man, I was hoping no one would ask but, since you did, promise you won't laugh. I did the autodetect and configure in VASM like three times, then I was like "duh, um, maybe its the connection". So uh, yeah, pretty stupid, but I had one of the speaker wires in the back switched. I did have to do that first step of going through vasm, but from there, it was just a dumb mistake lol.

aww man, I was hoping no one would ask but, since you did, promise you won't laugh. I did the autodetect and configure in VASM like three times, then I was like "duh, um, maybe its the connection". So uh, yeah, pretty stupid, but I had one of the speaker wires in the back switched. I did have to do that first step of going through vasm, but from there, it was just a dumb mistake lol.

We all do it.. I searched for hours one day for the reason my DSL modem would not work only to find out it was disconnected from the Phone line. Duh